[10/September/2009] SANA'A, Sept.10 (Saba) - About 17 rebels were killed and four other seized during the attacks launched by the army last Wednesday against al-Houthi rebels in Yemen's northern restive province of Saada.

Local sources in Saada province said that the security and armed forces forced the rebels out several areas in the province causing them big losses when they attempted sneaking into al-Sama Mountain in Saada province.

The source made it clear that tens of rebels were killed and others injured in confrontations with the military and security units in al-Mahather and al-Khiam areas after the rebellion elements laid mines and bombs in the roads.

Furthermore, one rebel has been killed in fire exchanging with the armed forces in Alab center immediately after he fired against citizens injuring two, one of them is critical.

On another hand, the air forces made painful attacks against the dens of al-Houthi rebels in villages of al-Darb ,Darb Soliman ,al-Hessn and al-Jarshah as well as some areas of al-Malahedh district in Saada province.

Al- Houthi rebels have been launching intermittent wars against the troops since 2004.

Since the fighting erupted in 2004, thousands of people, soldiers and insurgents have been killed in Saada province, which located close to border with Saudi Arabia, after the rebel group was founded by rebel leader Hussein al- Houthi.

Hussein, the eldest brother of the current group leader Abdul-Malik, was killed by the army in September 2004.

The Yemeni government accuses the Houthi group of trying to reinstall the rule of imams, which was toppled by a republican revolution in northern Yemen in 1962.